Plans to fine motorists £70 for parking on pavement shelved by Welsh government

Plans to fine drivers parking on the curb have been shelved by the Welsh government after councilors complained about too many new transport laws.

Consultation on the plans has been postponed by the country’s Labor administration until 2024.

If enacted this year, the law would have given city officials new powers to clear sidewalks blocked by motorists parking their cars on the curbs.

The move would have seen officials issue fines of £70.

But on Monday, April 3, the government of Mark Drakeford postponed the measures due to an increase in the number of transport laws being introduced.

Deputy Climate Change Secretary Lee Waters said he had ‘listened to the feedback’

Council heads had complained that too many new transportation laws were being introduced at the same time.

Later this year, the Welsh Labor will introduce a general speed limit of 20mph for 30mph roads.

In addition, they will scrap all new road construction and cut support for bus services.

In a letter to ministers, the Welsh Local Government Association stated the reason for delaying the parking scheme was that councils were ‘struggling’ with the ‘huge volume of transport-related problems’ imposed on them by the Cardiff Bay administration.

It said: ‘There is a long list of transport-related projects and requirements, all of which are being executed at the same time. The proposal to enforce the parking policy on sidewalks is only the most recent example.

“This puts a lot of pressure on the highways and the transport staff of municipalities, with a large part of the staff on top of the ‘day-to-day work’, such as maintaining highways and constructions, keeping the daily bus services running smoothly. ‘

Deputy Climate Change Secretary Lee Waters said he had “listened to the feedback.”

But he said consultations on sidewalk parking plans will now be postponed until 2024.

Mr Waters went on to say the postponement will ‘enable local authorities to focus on the implementation and introduction of standard 20mph speed limits by September 2023 and preparations for bus franchising’.

In a statement, Lee Waters MS said: ‘I recognize that we are asking a lot from local authorities who are struggling during this difficult time. I have listened to leaders’ feedback and have decided to postpone the consultation on curb parking until next year.

This will allow local authorities to focus on the implementation and introduction of standard 20 mph speeds by September 2023 and preparations for bus franchising.

He continued, “This is an incredibly busy period for local government.

Councils across Wales continue to provide vital services that people rely on every day and we continue to support them in this. We have worked closely with local authorities and supported them through the difficult times of austerity, floods, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.”

At present only the police in Wales have the authority to issue parking fines for obstruction of the pavement. However, the forces are too strained to handle it.

The parking fine on the sidewalk would be introduced next year an 18-month pilot project in Cardiff in 2021, which would see motorists automatically fined for on-street parking along City Road.

The move was welcomed by disability charities and new parents who hoped it would have led to clearer walkways.

But the plan’s delay is a huge blow to many wheelchair users and parents, who a few months ago believed the new rules should be introduced as soon as possible.

Power wheelchair user Kat Watkins, from Disability Wales, said blocked pathways endanger people’s lives and create barriers for disabled people.

She said, “For me it’s exhausting and extremely frustrating because then you have to fight to get to the places you want and thought you could get to pretty easily.

“It’s so inconsiderate, people have lives too. Wheelchair users, we have lives too. We have to go somewhere. It’s out of order.’

And new mum Gwenllian Wyn, from Cardiff, said: ‘People give priority to their cars over pedestrians and that means I have to go from the curb to the main road with a pushchair from time to time to avoid cars.

“I’ve always been aware of it, but since having a baby it’s become so much more of an issue because I’m pushing a stroller and that’s my child’s safety that I’m very concerned about.” Parking on pavements is not illegal in Wales and in the UK it is only illegal in London, with Scotland working towards a ban.

However, if your vehicle is deemed an impediment by your local government, it is an offense and the police may take action.